Wise owl Sir Tom Finney was spot-on

One of this country’s all-time greats told me: “Don’t play when you are injured. They’ll put you out there on the field when you are not fit, if they can

One of this country’s all-time greats told me: “Don’t play when you are injured. They’ll put you out there on the field when you are not fit, if they can.

“That won’t do your career any good. I’m telling you now, son, it’s not how many games you play – it’s how many seasons.” I always ­remembered that advice. And if that was great advice, the biggest compliment I was paid came from Peter Swales, when he was my chairman at Man City and also running the FA.

When I told him I wanted to go back to Everton, he phoned Freddie Pye, the club’s vice-chairman, and said: “Get down here now – we’ve got a problem.”